Summary

The RACGP supports the aim of the Diagnostic Medicine and Pathology Clinical Committees to reduce low-value pathology testing, especially those with the potential to cause harm from overdiagnosis or misinterpretation.

The RACGP is concerned that there are significant risks associated with some of the nine proposed mechanisms for better requesting. Poorly designed and implemented consumer education and electronic clinical decision support could result in unintended consequences.

There is also the additional risk that some tests could fall outside the rigidly defined descriptors and proposed time limits, which would result in patients having to incur unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses.